Siemens, KOSPO complete Andong CCPP in 24 Months!

The Andong combined cycle power plant (CCPP) in South Korea was erected in a record time of only 24 months. Thisliquefied natural gas (LNG) fired plant has an electrical capacity of 417 megawatts (MW), making it the second Siemens (NYSE: SI) operating H-class-based combined-cycle power plant in Asia with an efficiency level of more than 60 percent. The owner and operator is Korea Southern Power Co. Ltd. (KOSPO), a leading power supply utility. KOSPO teamed up with Siemens and GS E&C in successfully accomplishing this record schedule based upon their common experience in power construction industry. Designed for 250 starts per year, with a startup time of only 30 minutes from standstill to full load, the Andong CCPP is particularly flexible, allowing it to react optimally to the rapidly changing challenges posed by the Korean power market.

The Andong CCPP is located in the city of the same name in the province of Gyeongsangbuk-do. The plant is designed as a single-shaft power plant. As the consortium leader with its partner GS E&C, Siemens was not only responsible for the turn-key erection of the plant, but also supplied the major components – one SGT6-8000H gas turbine, one SST6-5000 steam turbine, one SGen6-2000H generator and a Benson heat recovery steam generator. The SPPA-T3000 I&C system and other auxiliary systems are also part of the package. Furthermore, Siemens has signed a maintenance contract with a term of ten years for the main components.

“The trustful relationship developed with KOSPO and our partner GS E&C made it possible to execute this high efficient H-class single shaft power plant in a record time with highest quality to support the high power demand in the Andong area. The project execution also was a benchmark in terms of health and safety and zero harm in Korea,” said Lothar Balling, Executive Vice President and head of global project management in the Siemens Energy Power Generation Division.

“We place special emphasis on maximized efficiency, operational flexibility and environmental friendliness. For that reason we opted for a solution provided by Siemens, which features cutting-edge power plant technology. The plant’s quality and the fast project execution once again proved that Siemens is a very experienced and reliable partner for us,” declared Lee SangHo, President & CEO of Korea Southern Power Co. Ltd.

Siemens also has three additional combined-cycle plants with H-class gas turbines under construction in South Korea with a total capacity of 2,500 MW which are scheduled to commence operation over the course of 2014 and 2015.

In October 2013, Siemens incorporated a new company, Siemens Energy Solutions Ltd. in Seoul/South Korea, which will act as its new Regional Headquarters to serve the Asian and Middle Eastern power plant solutions market out of the region. The company is expected to grow its staff to more than 500 employees in 2017.